Politics

Uganda’s Museveni to become leader of Non-Aligned Movement

Published

3 weeks ago

November 18, 2023

Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni will succeed President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan as head of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM)— the second-largest group of nations after the United Nations.

The East African nation will also host the NAM Summit in Kampala in January 2024 and then go on to chair the Global South Association of 120 countries from January 2024 to January 2026.

Speaking on his country’s preparedness to host the summit, during the week, the chairperson of the National Organising Committee, Lucy Nakyobe said the focus would be on bringing together leaders from around the world to address pressing global issues and foster cooperation among member nations.

Despite recent travel warning issued by the US and UK embassies due to concerns about terrorism in the nation which has also fallen out with Western powers over its legislation against the LGBTQ community, she reassured the world that Uganda remained safe.

“I assure you all that the country is secure and ready to receive the international visitors coming in January. We are ready for our guests. But I still call upon the general public to remain vigilant,” Nakyobe said.

Museveni emphasised that, because of its neutrality on global matters, his nation was the ideal host. As it did in the 11th Emergency Session of the UN General Assembly vote on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, 31 African nations supported a resolution stating the “Principles of the UN Charter” and calling for a “comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in Ukraine.” Uganda abstained in the vote which saw 141 member states vote in favour, seven voting against, and 32 abstaining.

ICT and National Guidance Minister, Dr. Chris Baryomunsi announced that Uganda would also host the G77 + China conference from January 20 to 23, 2024, one day after hosting the NAM.

During a recent visit to Uganda in May, Pedroso Cuesta Pedro Luis, the chairman of the Group of 77 (G77) countries, confirmed that Uganda was prepared to host the Third Summit.

The South Summit is the Group of 77’s highest decision-making body. The Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 forced the postponement of the First and Second South Summits, which took place in Havana, Cuba, and Doha, Qatar, respectively.

Amidst the challenges posed by emerging power centres that deviate from the conventional global blocs, the summit will facilitate discourse and analysis on common interests. Some perceive the hosting rights as an indication of Africa’s increasing influence on the international arena.

Related Topics:Featured Uganda Yoweri Museveni

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Politics

Seychelles declares emergency following explosion, flooding

Published

1 day ago

December 7, 2023

Ifeoluwa Dada

Officials in the Seychelles have confirmed that a blast at an explosives store wrecked buildings and caused massive damage to an industrial zone.

The explosion has prompted the president, Wavel Ramkalawan, to declare a state of emergency on Thursday.

The president called for a minute of silence on Thursday after telling reporters that the blast rocked the island and caused flooding due to heavy rains. Three people died as a result.

National television footage showed streets strewn with uprooted trees buried in deep mud and covered in debris.

“Following an explosion at the CCCL explosives store that has caused massive damage to the Providence Industrial area and the surrounding areas and major destruction caused by flooding due to heavy rains, the President has declared a state of emergency for today, December 7th,” President Wavel Ramkalawan’s office said in a statement.

“Everyone is being asked to stay at home. All schools will be closed. Only workers in the essential services and persons travelling will be allowed free movement.”

Tourists can still use the international airport and the ferries that travel between the islands, according to the government’s official social media.

Comprising 115 islands, the Seychelles is the least populous country in Africa, home to only 100,000 people.

Politics

Mauritania: Ex-president Abdel Aziz jailed for 5 years

Published

3 days ago

December 5, 2023

Ifeoluwa Dada

A former president of Mauritania , Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, has been found guilty, and sentenced frollowokg a trial.

He was arraigned on money laundering and “illicit enrichment” charges.

Abdel Aziz was on Tuesday sentenced to five years in prison for the offences which were said to have been committed during his decade-long reign as the leader of the West African country. He was found guilty of two of the ten charges against him by the court late on Monday, after it looked into claims of corruption and misappropriation of public funds.

However, some of Abdel Aziz’s associates who had also been on trial, including two former prime ministers, were acquitted.

The decision was described as “a political verdict targeting a man and his family” by one of his solicitors, but his conviction, according to the prosecution, was historic.

Although Abdel Aziz was succeeded in 2019 by a political ally, Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, who remains president, his government however quickly came under scrutiny over actions, including deals on offshore oil projects.

Abdel Aziz’s conviction is the biggest against high profile public servants in the country. The former military leader has the option of appealing his sentence at the Supreme Court.

According to Transparency International, Mauritania scored 30 points out of 100 on the 2022 Corruption Perceptions Index. The country averaged 28.00 points from 2006 until 2022, reaching an all-time high of 31.00 Points in 2006, having hit a record low of 23.00 Points in 2010.